Let’s Play Pk: An adult playground in a fast-paced world

Through Let’s Play Pk, people can disconnect to reconnect, with themselves as well as others around them

KARACHI: Sunday, October 9, marked the first event for newly-formed organisation Let’s Play Pk - a Paint Night at Karachi’s very own community art centre, The Grid.

Cell phones were checked at the door, watches were removed and work talk was strictly prohibited. For two and a half hours, time – and social media – ceased to exist while the attendees picked up a paintbrush and took a seat next to strangers that soon became acquaintances and friends.

PHOTO: PUBLICITY



In a world that’s constantly bombarded with information and largely experienced through social media, Wharton graduate and Let’s Play Pk founder Tanya Pabani realised the need for a space that encourages and inspires our generation to engage in meaningful and reflective social interactions.  With a thirst to meet new people in new environments, Pabani pioneered an organisation that aims to transform the way we interact with one another.

PHOTO: PUBLICITY

Through its digital detox sessions and ‘no phones, no watches, no work talk,’ policy, Let’s Play Pk creates an interactive adult playground where participants can step away from their daily lives and engage with others around them to enjoy some pure, unadulterated fun. Speaking about the organisation, Pabani explained, “Through Let’s Play Pk, we wish to create interactive and creative spaces in Karachi where people can just let go; they can disconnect to reconnect, with themselves as well as others around them.”



With the successful Paint Night, Pabani did just that. The event began with an icebreaker, where participants were divided into groups and constructed towers out of marshmallows and raw spaghetti. While some towers toppled over and others rose high, participants became comfortable working in teams and engaged in some healthy competition.

PHOTO: PUBLICITY

After the icebreaker, artist, dancer and teacher Zahshanne Malik seamlessly led the participants in creating a painting of a raven resting on a branch at sunset. With her infectious smile and bubbly personality, Malik encouraged the participants to push themselves and not be afraid of taking chances and run with their creative instincts. As participants sipped chai and tried their hands at acrylic paints, ravens of all sizes began to populate their canvases. And then, there was the chatter of helpful tips, sharing paints, lives and experiences.



With Paint Night, Let’s Play Pk proved one very important point: Karachiites are hungry for cultural spaces. With the introduction of Let’s Play Pk, Pabani is striving to change the landscape of cultural conversations, and foster a community of like-minded individuals looking for new ways to engage with the world around them.

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